The Minorities Department of the All India Congress Committee might soon get a new chairperson. At present the political secretary to the party president, Ahmed Patel, is officiating as its chairman.Senior leader A.R. Antulay had quit from the post last year after which the temporary charge was given to Patel who has been holding it since. Appointing a full-fledged chairman of the Minorities Department is expected to help in preparing a strategy for the forthcoming Assembly elections in four states keeping in view the crucial minority vote-bank.The department plays an important role in forming minority cells in state units of the party and ideally should participate in selection of candidates for elections.There are indications that the incumbent to the post may not be a very senior leader. The Minorities Department was housed in a spacious room, meant for senior party functionaries, in the front facade of the AICC building. However, late on April 23, it was shifted to one of the small rooms at the back. This has fuelled the speculation that the new chairperson may not be of the level of general-secretary.Since its formation, the department has had only high-profile leaders as its chairpersons, Arjun Singh, A.R. Antulay and now Patel. Says a party leader: ‘‘It is clear from the new room chosen for the department that the chairperson cannot be a member of the Congress Working Committee or a general secretary.’’At present all the six general secretaries occupy rooms in the main building. The leaders include Mohsina Kidwai, Ambika Soni, Oscar Fernandes, Vayalar Ravi, Kamal Nath and Mukul Wasnik. One vacant room has led to speculations that there might be a new general-secretary following the impending reshuffle of the party organisation.It is expected that the reshuffle would be focussing on the states going to elections this year-end, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Delhi.
